Bohemians may have breathed new life into the Premier Division title race, beating their great rivals Shamrock Rovers at a packed and jubilant Dalymount Park.
First half goals by Dawson Devoy and James Clarke and a controlled second half saw the Gypsies home, cutting the gap between themselves and the leaders to nine points with two games in hand. Remarkably it was their third victory of the season over the Hoops and a win that was richly deserved.
Bohs battered the visitors from the off, Devoy's early goal setting the tone for a fine display by the home side who incredibly have yet to draw a game in 21 league matches as they registered their 12th win of the campaign.
Alan Reynolds, the Bohs manager, shuffled his defence after the loss to Waterford, pushing Jordan Flores into centre half alongside Rob Cornwall with Liam Smith at right back and the experienced John Mountney in at left back.
For the Hoops, Jack Byrne and Graham Burke returned along with Josh Honohan, Matt Healy and Lee Grace after missing the easy win over Cork City.
But it was Bohemians who went at Rovers from the first whistle and were ahead in only the second minute as a ball into the heart of the Hoops' defence led to a mistake by Ricardo Lopes who was hustled out of the ball in his own area by home striker James Clarke.
The loose ball then ran kindly for Bohs' midfielder Dayle Rooney who slammed it to the net to give the home side the lead, the strike the 27-year-old's fourth league goal of the season.
Bohs continued to press and Clarke's strong run into the Rovers area moments later almost fell for Ross Tierney, the away defence grateful that the cross just evaded its intended target.
The normally rock solid Rovers defence were looking more than a little shaky, as Tierney, Mountney and Adam McDonnell all went close to adding to Rooney’s early strike.
Indeed such was Bohs dominance, home 'keeper Kacper Chorazka didn’t actually touch the ball until the 20th minute, and that was an easy clearance from a Liam Smith backpass.
Bohs came close to scoring again in the 25th minute as a quick breakout from a Rovers corner saw Ed McGinity diving as Mountney's long-range shot whistled over his crossbar.
However five minutes before the break, Bohs scored their second.
Tierney, who had a brilliant opening 45 minutes tormenting the Rovers defence, played a brilliant one-two with his captain Devoy on the edge of the area, the latter brilliantly back-heeling the ball into Tierney’s path and his low cross was forced to the net by Clarke for his first of the season.
Stephen Bradley brought in Michael Noonan for the ineffective Aaron Greene at half time and the teenager started to cause problems straight away, his cushioned pass to Graham Burke just after the restart saw Rovers first shot on target, but it was straight at Chorazka.
Jack Byrne and Aaron McEniff were hauled ashore on 53 minutes replaced by Dylan Watts and Danny Mandroiu and Watts almost reduced the deficit when Chorazka produced a fine diving save to deny him after he was set up in the home area by Noonan.
Bohs almost got a third just before the half hour as Clarke set up Devoy, whose low shot beat McGinty but not Lopes who cleared off the line.
The home side shut up shop in the remaining minutes but the game was beyond Rovers who created little bar a couple of late corners which were easily dealt with as the Bohs players and fans celebrated a tremendous victory together at the final whistle.
Bohemians: Kasper Chorazka; Liam Smith, Jordan Flores, Rob Cornwell John Mountney; Niall Morahan, Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 63); Ross Tierney Dawson Devoy ©, Dayle Rooney; James Clarke.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Daniel Cleary, Roberto Lopes Lee Grace (Maxim Kovvalevkis 88); Danny Grant Aaron McEneff (Danny Mandriou 53) Josh Honohan; Graham Burke, Mathew Healy Jack Byrne (Dylan Watts 53) ; Aaron Greene (Michael Noonan 45).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
Attendance: 4421.
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